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Rollie Jacobs (left), former public address announcer at Riverside Park Speedway, inducted legendary car owner Mario Fiore (right) into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday in East Windsor, Conn. Twitter Link Riverside Speedway was a NASCAR short track that was inside of Riverside Fun Park in Agawam, Massachusetts . I think I just ran the car too hard and Im very fortunate that I didnt end up in the qualifying race. Moore and his team checked everything on the car after qualifying to ensure that nothing was wrong with the chassis setup. The great Reggie Ruggiero closed the books with 98 modified feature wins, about a quarter of his career total, leading all drivers. It was the place to be on Saturday nights, fans would come in and watch the modifieds, and theyd have their favorites to cheer for, said Matt Wiernasz. Bobby Dragon of Milton, Vt. won the first NASCAR Busch North Series event at Riverside Park Speedway on August 29, 1988. Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. Did you miss a thrilling Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, or David Gravels Tri-City triumph? Instagram Link Riverside Park Speedway - Facebook As Berggren recalled, Riverside had an inspired business plan: Getting inside the park was free, you only paid admission for individual rides or to enter the speedway. Second place finisher Chuck Bown of Portland, Ore. now drives on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while third place finisher Dale Shaw of Center Conway, N.H. recently moved to the NASCAR Busch Series. By admin January 26, 2013 Riverside Park Speedway Charlie Jones, 1941 - 2013 Charles Ernest Jones, 71, lifelong Agawam resident, passed away Wednesday January 23rd at the VA Boston Healthcare in West Roxbury, MA. Gary worked for many years at Germano Auto Sales before owning Garys Service Center in Agawam, which he sold two years ago. "Riverside Park was like Daytona to me," Reggie Ruggiero recalled. BRINKMANN RECORDS BEST BMARA FINISH OF SEASON, KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI. Riverside Park Speedway - David Allio | Racing Photography Archives He started his interest in racing with Leo Matte at Riverside Park with the likes of George Lombardo, Ed Patnode and Labbee Brothers Racing. His sons then managed the park and speedway while becoming active in racing themselves, with a new crew of helpers. Another exciting development in 1997 was the acquisition of the park by Oklahoma-based Premier Parks, Inc., parent company of Six Flags, the world's largest regional theme park company. Organists - Forgotten Roller Rinks of the Past He was part of a championship crew with Barry Kuhnel, Bill Pelley and Bob Polverari in the 80s and 90s. "I would like to Thank You so much for making Carly's 17th birthday party GREAT!!!! The spectacles lasted until the late 1970s, with Krebs leading all multiple winners with six triumphs. Riverside Park Speedway | Agawam Massachusetts. Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut and Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire are just some of the local options within driving distance. The 1970s were a decade of change for the facility, as physical and managerial changes were put into place that made the track what it was until its final season. Of those six, two will never be more closely linked to one another than the driver-owner combination of Reggie Ruggiero and Mario Fiore. (Dick Berggren photo), The Motorsports Authority - Copyright 2014-2023 - Turn 3 Media, LLC All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved (About Us). I was doing things to the very best of my ability.. . Riverside Park in Agawam was a gathering spot for fun as far back as the late 19th century when it was known as Riverside Grove (and Gallups Grove before that). and the Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass. He resided in West Springfield and Agawam all his life. Birthdays, Mitvahs, Bachelor(ette), Team Building, Catered Lunches He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. legend Roland Pappy Lapierre Sr., car and engine builder Jim Jorgenson, 1987 Busch North Series champion Joey Kid Kourafas and Irene Venditti, widow of Seekonk Speedway founder D. Anthony Venditti. The track closed at the end of the 1999 season. had a wonderful time. The 1980s arrived! Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Jocko Jr., followed a different path, racing sportscars with the SCCA. Galons excited monologue kept fans filling Riverside Parks 7,200 bleacher seats, creating a cast of white hats and villains that variously included Bill Greco, Dick Dixon and Danny Gallulo. This one is Riverside Park, Agawam, Ma. Under the sanction of the UNITED Stock Car Racing Club, Gene Bergin, Ed Patnode, Danny Galullo, Billy Greco and others emerged as contenders, Krebs and Greco piled up victories. (Mass Appeal) - Built in 1948, Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam was home to some of the most exciting local auto racing for more than 50 years before the track closed down in 1999. Stock Car Racing Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Riverside Park Speedway was one of the most successful short tracks in America between 1992 and 1996. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The park was shuttered during the Great Depression, but was reopened by Edward Carroll in 1940. West Virginia International Speedway. Paved Oval located in Agawam, MA: Track Status: Razed (Opened: 1948 --- Closed: 1999) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction